Entertainment MediaThe online magazine that helps LGBTQ+ women to stay updated with entertaining blogs and breaking news about LGBT rights.https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/ashley-arnold/feed2019-02-22T15:40:05+00:00Joomla! - Open Source Content ManagementClexaCon 2019 teams up top entertainment institutions to advance LGBTQ+ women visibility2019-02-13T00:54:12+00:002019-02-13T00:54:12+00:00https://www.lezbelib.com/events/clexacon-2019-teams-up-top-entertainment-institutions-to-advance-lgbtq-women-visibilityMona Elyafiinfo@lezbelib.com<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p><img style="float: left;" src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Events/clexacon.jpg" alt="clexacon" width="486" height="274" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Standing tall and strong as the largest convention for LGBTQ+ women and allies, <a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/clexacon" target="_parent">ClexaCon</a> continues to affirm its unwavering commitment to focus on the power of queer women to create massive, meaningful and lasting change in front and behind the camera.</p>
</div><div class="K2FeedFullText">
<p>Returning to Las Vegas’ famed Tropicana Hotel April 11th through April 15th, 2019, for its third consecutive year, the one-of-a-kind event will once again bring together actresses, directors, producers, writers, comic book illustrators, visual artists, academics, journalists and fans from over 40 countries and all 50 U.S. states to celebrate the best of LGBTQ+ TV and film.</p>
<p>Fans will have a chance to attend a series of panels on a variety of topics, workshops, charity events, parties, a red-carpet soiree as well as a three-day film festival.</p>
<p>Bringing their “A” game, <strong>Ashley Arnold</strong> and <strong>Danielle Jablonski</strong> - the masterminds behind the hugely popular convention - are not just shaking things up this year, they are changing the game too.</p>
<p>The duo is decidedly cranking up the decibels on ClexaCon’s mission to push forth its enduring message of diversity, equality and inclusion of LGBTQ+ women in entertainment at various levels of the industry.</p>
<p>Putting an extra laser-focus this April on the importance of education and academics, ClexaCon strives to empower and inspire more LGBTQ+ women to get involved in content creation while simultaneously embolden allies to improve representation for LGBTQ+ characters in their creative work.</p>
<p>Impressively drawing some 4,000+ attendees from over 40 countries last year, ClexaCon is on track for another impressive year.</p>
<p>As we keep witnessing the proliferation of the #RepresentationMatters hashtag across social media platforms, the message is clear: we’re in desperate need of more diverse voices.</p>
<p>This is why the Con continues to provide educational resources for the community to aid in the push for better representation. Its goal is to teach and motivate more LGBTQ+ women to participate in creating the stories that actually reflect America’s evolving cultural landscape.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tv-movies" target="_parent">LGBTQ representation</a> on television in 2018 hit a record high this year, according to <a href="https://www.glaad.org/whereweareontv18">GLAAD’s annual TV diversity report</a>. Sadly, the same can’t be said about its Hollywood counterpart. The GLAAD report found that filmmakers and producers miserably failed to include LGBTQ+ characters in their work.</p>
<p>“While we’ve made considerable strides in moving the needle culturally, there’s still not enough queer women creating content,” says <strong>Danielle Jablonski</strong>, “we need to counter the roadblocks Hollywood continues to put in front of us and provide more avenues to educate and teach the next generation of LGBTQ+ women about how to tell their stories and get their content out to the world”.</p>
<p>“We all want to see our stories told,” added <strong>Ashley Arnold</strong>, “the success of shows like Pose, Supergirl, Black Lightning, Adventure Time, Vida and One Day At A Time – all featuring inclusive storylines - denotes a clear audience demand and pressing interest for new and diverse story angles.”</p>
<p>To that end, ClexaCon is proud to be collaborating with some of the top industry institutions and LGBTQ+ players in Arts &amp; Entertainment.</p>
<p>SAG-AFTRA, YouTube Space L.A., Dash Production, <a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/tello-films" target="_parent">Tello Films</a>, Outfest and UNLV, are all on track with ClexaCon’s mission to act as a catalyst for change and work to advance professional achievement for LGBTQ+ women working in all areas of film, Television, video, digital streaming platforms and other screen-based media.</p>
<p>Remaining at the forefront of the fight to put queer female stories front and center, ClexaCon will kick-off the 5-day convention on April 11 with a creative new concept: a one-day event with two different Labs respectively filled with panels, workshops and networking.</p>
<p>The Creators Lab, in partnership with SAG-AFTRA, YouTube Space L.A., DASH Productions and Tello Films, aims to inspire and empower the next generation of LGBTQ+ women, trans and non-binary creators.</p>
<p>The Academic Lab, in association with The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), will welcome queer academic fans of queer content, Scholars/educators of queer fandom to educate, energize and invigorate the next generation of academics.</p>
<p>Also new this year is the exclusive collaboration with Outfest - one of the premier LGBTQ film festivals in the world - that will see the winner of Best Short Film at the ClexaCon 2019 Film Festival receive automatic inclusion in the Outfest Film Festival in 2019.</p>
<p>Once again turning Sin City’s Tropicana Hotel into the ultimate entertainment hub, ClexaCon 2019 will rally under one roof some of the community’s most prominent figures on television.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Events/clexacon-2019-guests.jpg" alt="clexacon 2019 guests" /></p>
<p>Fans will have a chance to rub elbows and connect with the likes of Annie Briggs (<a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/carmilla" target="_parent">Carmilla</a>), Briana Venskus (<a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/supergirl" target="_parent">Supergirl</a>, The Walking Dead), Caity Lotz (Legends of Tomorrow), Chantal Thuy (<a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/black-lightning" target="_parent">Black Lightning</a>), Crystal Chappell (Venice), Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Wynonna Earp), Dot Marie Jones (Glee), Elise Bauman (Carmilla), Emily Andras (showrunner, Wynonna Earp, Lost Girl), Guinevere Turner (Go Fish, <a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/the-l-word" target="_parent">The L Word</a>), Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time), Jes Macallan (Legends of Tomorrow), Katherine Barrell (Wynonna Earp), Katrina Law (Arrow, Spartacus), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (Legends of Tomorrow), Mandahla Rose (Forever Not Maybe), Nadia Bjorlin (Days of our Lives), Nafessa Williams (Black Lightning), Natasha Negovanlis (Carmilla), and Nicole Pacent (Anyone But me), to name a few.</p>
<p>Strengthening its philanthropic values, this year’s ClexaCon Cocktails for Change and Fun Run will be benefiting <a href="http://visibilityfund.org/">The Visibility Fund – a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ content creators.</a></p>
<p>“Advocacy is a powerful lever for real impact,” comments Ashley Arnold, “we’re honored to be giving back this year to a community partner like The Visibility Fund that shares our voice and stands for our mission.”</p>
<p>ClexaCon might represent different things for everyone, yet the one common thread for all remains its unique ability to bind us all together as one big family and organically impart a sense of solidarity and empowerment. At its core it stands as an international convention that fundamentally exists to remind LGBTQ+ women, as Commander Lexa would say, that “your fight is not over.”</p>
<p>For More Information go to: <a href="https://www.clexacon.com/">www.Clexacon.com</a></p>
<p>Watch the promo video:</p>
<p><iframe style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wZpKO9NyN5A" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></p></div><div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p><img style="float: left;" src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Events/clexacon.jpg" alt="clexacon" width="486" height="274" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Standing tall and strong as the largest convention for LGBTQ+ women and allies, <a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/clexacon" target="_parent">ClexaCon</a> continues to affirm its unwavering commitment to focus on the power of queer women to create massive, meaningful and lasting change in front and behind the camera.</p>
</div><div class="K2FeedFullText">
<p>Returning to Las Vegas’ famed Tropicana Hotel April 11th through April 15th, 2019, for its third consecutive year, the one-of-a-kind event will once again bring together actresses, directors, producers, writers, comic book illustrators, visual artists, academics, journalists and fans from over 40 countries and all 50 U.S. states to celebrate the best of LGBTQ+ TV and film.</p>
<p>Fans will have a chance to attend a series of panels on a variety of topics, workshops, charity events, parties, a red-carpet soiree as well as a three-day film festival.</p>
<p>Bringing their “A” game, <strong>Ashley Arnold</strong> and <strong>Danielle Jablonski</strong> - the masterminds behind the hugely popular convention - are not just shaking things up this year, they are changing the game too.</p>
<p>The duo is decidedly cranking up the decibels on ClexaCon’s mission to push forth its enduring message of diversity, equality and inclusion of LGBTQ+ women in entertainment at various levels of the industry.</p>
<p>Putting an extra laser-focus this April on the importance of education and academics, ClexaCon strives to empower and inspire more LGBTQ+ women to get involved in content creation while simultaneously embolden allies to improve representation for LGBTQ+ characters in their creative work.</p>
<p>Impressively drawing some 4,000+ attendees from over 40 countries last year, ClexaCon is on track for another impressive year.</p>
<p>As we keep witnessing the proliferation of the #RepresentationMatters hashtag across social media platforms, the message is clear: we’re in desperate need of more diverse voices.</p>
<p>This is why the Con continues to provide educational resources for the community to aid in the push for better representation. Its goal is to teach and motivate more LGBTQ+ women to participate in creating the stories that actually reflect America’s evolving cultural landscape.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tv-movies" target="_parent">LGBTQ representation</a> on television in 2018 hit a record high this year, according to <a href="https://www.glaad.org/whereweareontv18">GLAAD’s annual TV diversity report</a>. Sadly, the same can’t be said about its Hollywood counterpart. The GLAAD report found that filmmakers and producers miserably failed to include LGBTQ+ characters in their work.</p>
<p>“While we’ve made considerable strides in moving the needle culturally, there’s still not enough queer women creating content,” says <strong>Danielle Jablonski</strong>, “we need to counter the roadblocks Hollywood continues to put in front of us and provide more avenues to educate and teach the next generation of LGBTQ+ women about how to tell their stories and get their content out to the world”.</p>
<p>“We all want to see our stories told,” added <strong>Ashley Arnold</strong>, “the success of shows like Pose, Supergirl, Black Lightning, Adventure Time, Vida and One Day At A Time – all featuring inclusive storylines - denotes a clear audience demand and pressing interest for new and diverse story angles.”</p>
<p>To that end, ClexaCon is proud to be collaborating with some of the top industry institutions and LGBTQ+ players in Arts &amp; Entertainment.</p>
<p>SAG-AFTRA, YouTube Space L.A., Dash Production, <a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/tello-films" target="_parent">Tello Films</a>, Outfest and UNLV, are all on track with ClexaCon’s mission to act as a catalyst for change and work to advance professional achievement for LGBTQ+ women working in all areas of film, Television, video, digital streaming platforms and other screen-based media.</p>
<p>Remaining at the forefront of the fight to put queer female stories front and center, ClexaCon will kick-off the 5-day convention on April 11 with a creative new concept: a one-day event with two different Labs respectively filled with panels, workshops and networking.</p>
<p>The Creators Lab, in partnership with SAG-AFTRA, YouTube Space L.A., DASH Productions and Tello Films, aims to inspire and empower the next generation of LGBTQ+ women, trans and non-binary creators.</p>
<p>The Academic Lab, in association with The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), will welcome queer academic fans of queer content, Scholars/educators of queer fandom to educate, energize and invigorate the next generation of academics.</p>
<p>Also new this year is the exclusive collaboration with Outfest - one of the premier LGBTQ film festivals in the world - that will see the winner of Best Short Film at the ClexaCon 2019 Film Festival receive automatic inclusion in the Outfest Film Festival in 2019.</p>
<p>Once again turning Sin City’s Tropicana Hotel into the ultimate entertainment hub, ClexaCon 2019 will rally under one roof some of the community’s most prominent figures on television.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Events/clexacon-2019-guests.jpg" alt="clexacon 2019 guests" /></p>
<p>Fans will have a chance to rub elbows and connect with the likes of Annie Briggs (<a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/carmilla" target="_parent">Carmilla</a>), Briana Venskus (<a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/supergirl" target="_parent">Supergirl</a>, The Walking Dead), Caity Lotz (Legends of Tomorrow), Chantal Thuy (<a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/black-lightning" target="_parent">Black Lightning</a>), Crystal Chappell (Venice), Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Wynonna Earp), Dot Marie Jones (Glee), Elise Bauman (Carmilla), Emily Andras (showrunner, Wynonna Earp, Lost Girl), Guinevere Turner (Go Fish, <a href="https://www.lezbelib.com/tag/the-l-word" target="_parent">The L Word</a>), Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time), Jes Macallan (Legends of Tomorrow), Katherine Barrell (Wynonna Earp), Katrina Law (Arrow, Spartacus), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (Legends of Tomorrow), Mandahla Rose (Forever Not Maybe), Nadia Bjorlin (Days of our Lives), Nafessa Williams (Black Lightning), Natasha Negovanlis (Carmilla), and Nicole Pacent (Anyone But me), to name a few.</p>
<p>Strengthening its philanthropic values, this year’s ClexaCon Cocktails for Change and Fun Run will be benefiting <a href="http://visibilityfund.org/">The Visibility Fund – a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ content creators.</a></p>
<p>“Advocacy is a powerful lever for real impact,” comments Ashley Arnold, “we’re honored to be giving back this year to a community partner like The Visibility Fund that shares our voice and stands for our mission.”</p>
<p>ClexaCon might represent different things for everyone, yet the one common thread for all remains its unique ability to bind us all together as one big family and organically impart a sense of solidarity and empowerment. At its core it stands as an international convention that fundamentally exists to remind LGBTQ+ women, as Commander Lexa would say, that “your fight is not over.”</p>
<p>For More Information go to: <a href="https://www.clexacon.com/">www.Clexacon.com</a></p>
<p>Watch the promo video:</p>
<p><iframe style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wZpKO9NyN5A" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></p></div>ClexaCon, the largest LGBTQ multi-fandom convention in the world, is coming to London!2018-09-09T21:19:40+00:002018-09-09T21:19:40+00:00https://www.lezbelib.com/events/clexacon-the-largest-lgbtq-multi-fandom-convention-in-the-world-is-coming-to-londonMona Elyafiinfo@lezbelib.com<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p><img style="float: left;" src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Events/clexacon-2018-london.jpg" alt="clexacon 2018 london" width="352" height="352" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>ClexaCon, the largest multi-fandom event for LGBTQ women &amp; allies, is going across the pond this Fall for the first time ever kicking off ClexaCon London.</p>
</div><div class="K2FeedFullText">
<p>Building from the massive success of ClexaCon, which has taken place in Las Vegas, NV for the past two years, the European edition will bring together in London the best in queer television, movies, books, blogs and more.</p>
<p>The highly anticipated pop-up event will take place at the Novotel London West (Hammersmith International Ctre,1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London W6 8DR) November 3-4, 2018.</p>
<p>The London chapter, while a smaller, more intimate version of the main event held annually in Las Vegas that hosts 4,000+ LGBTQ women and allies, represents a key geographical expansion for the iconic Con. &nbsp;Focusing on a more curated experience for its European attendees, ClexaCon London is committed to raising awareness about the differences in creative spaces and support for LGBTQ women in the UK in comparison to the US to inspire more LGBTQ women to create more content.</p>
<p>LGBTQ+ representation matters now more than ever. While there seems to be an overwhelming move towards diversity with LGBTQ-centric narratives and characters popping up in movies these past few years, still major studios are remaining behind when it comes to fully embracing a culture of inclusion.</p>
<p>In fact, GLAADS’s annual Studio Responsibility Index (SRI) recently noted a drop in the representation of LGBTQ people in films in the past year.</p>
<p>By allowing the LGBTQ+ community to tell their stories on the small and big screen, we not only allow viewers to have a more accurate view of society, but as well give LGBTQ+ individuals the chance to see themselves as integrated members of said society and showcase the universality of our lived experiences.</p>
<p>Sure, many Cons claim to be different, innovative and disruptive in some ways, but ClexaCon not only talks the talk but walks the walk, genuinely pushing the envelope forward for female LGBTQ+ representation in front of and behind the camera.</p>
<p>Ashley Arnold, Danielle Jablonski, and Holly Winebarger, the masterminds behind ClexaCon, are actively working to shift conventional thinking by continuing to advance the conversation about female representation in the film TV world.</p>
<p>"We hope attendees leave ClexaCon London feeling empowered. We want them to know this industry, like all industries, is in desperate need of more diverse voices," said Danielle Jablonski.</p>
<p>“Their voice matters. Pick up a camera, grab a pen, start writing, start creating because there are other people who care about what you have to say,” added Ashley Arnold.</p>
<p>High on the agenda at the UK Con is the urgent need to listen to LGBTQ+ voices to create more diverse content and to put queer female stories front and center.</p>
<p>To that end, ClexaCon London will feature a packed agenda of panels, meet and greets, photographs, and workshops from an elite community of LGBTQ gamechangers, industry tastemakers, media influencers and actors.</p>
<p>Aside from fan panels (including UK Wynonna Earp Fan panel), the event will also offer content creation panels, acting panels as well as academic panels.</p>
<p>Discussing the future of diversity, inclusivity and intersectionality in entertainment the panels will be covering a wide range of timely and trending topics from women’s voices (“Placing ourselves in the narrative: Queer Women and Fanfiction”) to non-binary &amp; gender conforming people representation (“I have a Que(e)ry: where non-binary and gender non-conforming people fit within gendered, queer spaces), among others.</p>
<p>In addition, the organizers have added a London Tour on Friday, renting a bus and filling it with as many LGBTQ woman as possible.</p>
<p>Much like its US counterpart, ClexaCon London will gather under one roof the stars behind a slew of unique and original queer-centric narratives and LGBTQ-themed programs.</p>
<p>Celebrating the illustrious female individuals who make the entertainment industry’s progressive and prolific LGBTQ community so powerful and diverse, ClexaCon London’s Celebrity roster includes Elise Bauman (Carmilla, Almost Adults), Natasha Negovanlis (Carmilla, Almost Adults), Briana Venskus (Supergirl, The Walking Dead), Jamie Clayton (Sense8), Mandahla Rose (Forever Not Maybe, All About E), Hanan Kattan, Shamim Sarif, among many others.</p>
<p>“Whether you are a fangirl, a creator, an activist, or all of the above, ClexaCon offers something for everyone,” said Holly Winebarger.</p>
<p>Dedicated to lead the push for diversity, equality and inclusion of LGBTQ+ women in entertainment, ClexaCon London brings Europe’s diverse community of queer women together, providing a safe space and a valuable platform to amplify their voices and celebrate their many cultural identities. An empowering experience both professionally and personally.</p>
<p>For more information go to:<a href="https://clexa-con.com/london/">https://clexa-con.com/london/</a></p></div><div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p><img style="float: left;" src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Events/clexacon-2018-london.jpg" alt="clexacon 2018 london" width="352" height="352" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>ClexaCon, the largest multi-fandom event for LGBTQ women &amp; allies, is going across the pond this Fall for the first time ever kicking off ClexaCon London.</p>
</div><div class="K2FeedFullText">
<p>Building from the massive success of ClexaCon, which has taken place in Las Vegas, NV for the past two years, the European edition will bring together in London the best in queer television, movies, books, blogs and more.</p>
<p>The highly anticipated pop-up event will take place at the Novotel London West (Hammersmith International Ctre,1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London W6 8DR) November 3-4, 2018.</p>
<p>The London chapter, while a smaller, more intimate version of the main event held annually in Las Vegas that hosts 4,000+ LGBTQ women and allies, represents a key geographical expansion for the iconic Con. &nbsp;Focusing on a more curated experience for its European attendees, ClexaCon London is committed to raising awareness about the differences in creative spaces and support for LGBTQ women in the UK in comparison to the US to inspire more LGBTQ women to create more content.</p>
<p>LGBTQ+ representation matters now more than ever. While there seems to be an overwhelming move towards diversity with LGBTQ-centric narratives and characters popping up in movies these past few years, still major studios are remaining behind when it comes to fully embracing a culture of inclusion.</p>
<p>In fact, GLAADS’s annual Studio Responsibility Index (SRI) recently noted a drop in the representation of LGBTQ people in films in the past year.</p>
<p>By allowing the LGBTQ+ community to tell their stories on the small and big screen, we not only allow viewers to have a more accurate view of society, but as well give LGBTQ+ individuals the chance to see themselves as integrated members of said society and showcase the universality of our lived experiences.</p>
<p>Sure, many Cons claim to be different, innovative and disruptive in some ways, but ClexaCon not only talks the talk but walks the walk, genuinely pushing the envelope forward for female LGBTQ+ representation in front of and behind the camera.</p>
<p>Ashley Arnold, Danielle Jablonski, and Holly Winebarger, the masterminds behind ClexaCon, are actively working to shift conventional thinking by continuing to advance the conversation about female representation in the film TV world.</p>
<p>"We hope attendees leave ClexaCon London feeling empowered. We want them to know this industry, like all industries, is in desperate need of more diverse voices," said Danielle Jablonski.</p>
<p>“Their voice matters. Pick up a camera, grab a pen, start writing, start creating because there are other people who care about what you have to say,” added Ashley Arnold.</p>
<p>High on the agenda at the UK Con is the urgent need to listen to LGBTQ+ voices to create more diverse content and to put queer female stories front and center.</p>
<p>To that end, ClexaCon London will feature a packed agenda of panels, meet and greets, photographs, and workshops from an elite community of LGBTQ gamechangers, industry tastemakers, media influencers and actors.</p>
<p>Aside from fan panels (including UK Wynonna Earp Fan panel), the event will also offer content creation panels, acting panels as well as academic panels.</p>
<p>Discussing the future of diversity, inclusivity and intersectionality in entertainment the panels will be covering a wide range of timely and trending topics from women’s voices (“Placing ourselves in the narrative: Queer Women and Fanfiction”) to non-binary &amp; gender conforming people representation (“I have a Que(e)ry: where non-binary and gender non-conforming people fit within gendered, queer spaces), among others.</p>
<p>In addition, the organizers have added a London Tour on Friday, renting a bus and filling it with as many LGBTQ woman as possible.</p>
<p>Much like its US counterpart, ClexaCon London will gather under one roof the stars behind a slew of unique and original queer-centric narratives and LGBTQ-themed programs.</p>
<p>Celebrating the illustrious female individuals who make the entertainment industry’s progressive and prolific LGBTQ community so powerful and diverse, ClexaCon London’s Celebrity roster includes Elise Bauman (Carmilla, Almost Adults), Natasha Negovanlis (Carmilla, Almost Adults), Briana Venskus (Supergirl, The Walking Dead), Jamie Clayton (Sense8), Mandahla Rose (Forever Not Maybe, All About E), Hanan Kattan, Shamim Sarif, among many others.</p>
<p>“Whether you are a fangirl, a creator, an activist, or all of the above, ClexaCon offers something for everyone,” said Holly Winebarger.</p>
<p>Dedicated to lead the push for diversity, equality and inclusion of LGBTQ+ women in entertainment, ClexaCon London brings Europe’s diverse community of queer women together, providing a safe space and a valuable platform to amplify their voices and celebrate their many cultural identities. An empowering experience both professionally and personally.</p>
<p>For more information go to:<a href="https://clexa-con.com/london/">https://clexa-con.com/london/</a></p></div>ClexaCon, the largest convention for LGBTQ+ women and allies, returns to Las Vegas for a second year!2018-03-07T23:22:46+00:002018-03-07T23:22:46+00:00https://www.lezbelib.com/entertainment-media/clexacon-the-largest-convention-for-lgbtq-women-and-allies-returns-to-las-vegas-for-a-second-yearMona Elyafiinfo@lezbelib.com<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p><img src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Media/clexaconlogo2018.jpg" alt="clexaconlogo2018" width="345" height="286" style="float: left;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Returning to Sin City for the second consecutive year,&nbsp;ClexaCon is a unique kind of media and entertainment convention for LGBTQ+ women and allies.</p>
</div><div class="K2FeedFullText">
<p>Taking place in Las Vegas April 5th through April 9th, 2018 at the Tropicana Hotel, ClexaCon celebrates queer female characters and stories, comics, books, connecting fans, celebrities, creators and journalists.</p>
<p>It also hosts a series of panels on a multitude of topics, workshops, charity events, parties, as well as a three-day film festival and a loud message of gender equality,female empowerment, diversity and inclusion.</p>
<p>The event brings together&nbsp;actresses, directors, producers, writers, comic book illustrators, visual artists, academics and fans from over 40 countries and all 50 U.S. states to celebrate the best of LGBTQ+ TV and film and discuss how to improve representation across all media platforms.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Nothing is more crucial and urgently important today than diversity and inclusion, and not just in Hollywood but in all business models and fields. This is where ClexaCon comes in as a leader in an industry-wide conversation to effectively rally together the decision makers and influencers of our community to formulate and put forth real change to counter the lack of representation for LGBTQ+ women in front and behind the camera.</p>
<p>With that in mind, ClexaCon aims to foster dialogue around various aspects of diversity including gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and age, among others.</p>
<p>It also focuses on ‘inclusion’ with a series of panels tackling issues ranging from ‘Bias in the Media and Stereotype’, ‘Bisexual Representation in the Media’, ‘Decolonizing the LGBTQ Sphere: Indigenous Queer Representation in the Media’, ‘Gaysian: Queer Asian Representation’ and ‘Disabled LGBTQ+ Representation’, to name a few.</p>
<p>Continuing its endeavor to create a morally accountable event, ClexaCon is dedicating its social responsibility platform this year to The True Colors Fund. Co-founded by Cyndi Lauper, the nonprofit organization works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, creating a world in which young people can be their true selves.</p>
<p>What started as a simple meet-up to unite fans of LGBTQ+ pop culture, evolved into a full-blown convention with over 2,000 attendees last year.&nbsp; ClexaCon is expected to welcome some 3,000+ attendees this spring.</p>
<p>In its first year, ClexaCon brought quite a variety of celebrity guests who are playing or have played LGBTQ+ characters on screen.</p>
<p>Last year, Sara Ramirez, known for her role as bisexual Dr. Callie Torres on the popular television series, <em>Grey's Anatomy</em> joined the conversation at the queer women of color pop-up panel, speaking about her own bisexuality and struggles as a biracial woman.</p>
<p>Ramirez wasn’t the only celeb to get personal.&nbsp; Many others joined the convention and this year will be no different.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Media/clexacon-2018.jpg" alt="clexacon 2018" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p>Featured guests for 2018 include Chlyer Leigh (<em>Supergirl</em>, <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em>), Caity Lotz (<em>Legends of Tomorrow</em>), Isabella Gomez, Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce (<em>One Day at a Time</em>), &nbsp;Anna Silk (<em>Lost Girl</em>), Dot Marie Jones (<em>Glee</em>), Nikohl Boosheri (<em>The Bold Type</em>), as well as many returning guests including Amy Acker (<em>The Gifted</em>, <em>Person of Interest</em>),Sarah Shahi (<em>Person of Interest</em>, <em>The L Word</em>), Katherine Barrell, Dominique Provost-Chalkley and Emily Andras (<em>Wynonna Earp</em>), Elise Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis (<em>Carmilla</em>), Elizabeth Keener (<em>The L Word</em>, <em>Skirtchasers</em>), Rachel Skarsten (<em>Lost Girl</em>, <em>Reign</em>), Zoie Palmer (<em>Lost Girl</em>, <em>Dark Matter</em>).</p>
<p>The name ClexaCon was born from the fan favorite ship ‘Clexa’ (Clarke &amp; Lexa) on the show <em>The 100</em>. In 2016, lesbian Commander Lexa was killed by a bullet minutes after consummating her relationship with bisexual lead, Clarke Griffin, thus checking all the boxes of the ‘Bury Your Gays’ trope. This heartbreaking moment led the organizers of ClexaCon to create one of the first conventions geared towards LGBTQ+ women to move the conversation forward in a more positive way.</p>
<p>ClexaCon was created and is run by <strong>Holly Winebarger</strong>, <strong>Ashley Arnold</strong> and <strong>Danielle Jablonski</strong> with the goal to provide a safe space and a world-wide community of LGBTQ+ women and allies who love TV, film, comics and books; to encourage more LGBTQ+ women to get involved in content creation; to embolden allies to improve representation for LGBTQ+ characters in their creative work.</p>
<p>“We hope attendees feel empowered. We want them to leave knowing this industry, like all industries, is in desperate need of more diverse voices. &nbsp;Pick up a camera, grab a pen, start writing, start creating because there are other people who care about what you have to say,” says <strong>Ashley Arnold</strong>.</p>
<p>What makes ClexaCon&nbsp;relevant and current within today’s social, cultural and political landscape is that it is the only event of its size in the world. More and more comic con-type events are popping up all over the U.S. but it’s hard to find LGBTQ+ content in those spaces, let alone events that are geared specifically to our community.</p>
<p>At a time when lesbian spaces, festivals and publications are rampantly vanishing all across the country, ClexaCon becomes fundamentally necessary to reconnect a community - making an impact by&nbsp;providing a safe place for LGBTQ+ women from all walks of life to come together and act as agents of change.&nbsp;</p>
<p>ClexaCon is dedicated to being both a resource and an advocate for the value of diversity, equality and inclusion. It is now becoming a marquee destination for all things women in entertainment, proving that there is both quality and quantity to be found when it comes to creative work that represent LGBTQ+ women.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Media/clexacon.jpg" alt="clexacon" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.clexacon.com/">https://www.clexacon.com/</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">#ClexaCon2018</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Schedule available here: <a href="http://clexa-con.com/about/schedule/">http://clexa-con.com/about/schedule/</a></p></div><div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p><img src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Media/clexaconlogo2018.jpg" alt="clexaconlogo2018" width="345" height="286" style="float: left;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Returning to Sin City for the second consecutive year,&nbsp;ClexaCon is a unique kind of media and entertainment convention for LGBTQ+ women and allies.</p>
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<p>Taking place in Las Vegas April 5th through April 9th, 2018 at the Tropicana Hotel, ClexaCon celebrates queer female characters and stories, comics, books, connecting fans, celebrities, creators and journalists.</p>
<p>It also hosts a series of panels on a multitude of topics, workshops, charity events, parties, as well as a three-day film festival and a loud message of gender equality,female empowerment, diversity and inclusion.</p>
<p>The event brings together&nbsp;actresses, directors, producers, writers, comic book illustrators, visual artists, academics and fans from over 40 countries and all 50 U.S. states to celebrate the best of LGBTQ+ TV and film and discuss how to improve representation across all media platforms.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Nothing is more crucial and urgently important today than diversity and inclusion, and not just in Hollywood but in all business models and fields. This is where ClexaCon comes in as a leader in an industry-wide conversation to effectively rally together the decision makers and influencers of our community to formulate and put forth real change to counter the lack of representation for LGBTQ+ women in front and behind the camera.</p>
<p>With that in mind, ClexaCon aims to foster dialogue around various aspects of diversity including gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and age, among others.</p>
<p>It also focuses on ‘inclusion’ with a series of panels tackling issues ranging from ‘Bias in the Media and Stereotype’, ‘Bisexual Representation in the Media’, ‘Decolonizing the LGBTQ Sphere: Indigenous Queer Representation in the Media’, ‘Gaysian: Queer Asian Representation’ and ‘Disabled LGBTQ+ Representation’, to name a few.</p>
<p>Continuing its endeavor to create a morally accountable event, ClexaCon is dedicating its social responsibility platform this year to The True Colors Fund. Co-founded by Cyndi Lauper, the nonprofit organization works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, creating a world in which young people can be their true selves.</p>
<p>What started as a simple meet-up to unite fans of LGBTQ+ pop culture, evolved into a full-blown convention with over 2,000 attendees last year.&nbsp; ClexaCon is expected to welcome some 3,000+ attendees this spring.</p>
<p>In its first year, ClexaCon brought quite a variety of celebrity guests who are playing or have played LGBTQ+ characters on screen.</p>
<p>Last year, Sara Ramirez, known for her role as bisexual Dr. Callie Torres on the popular television series, <em>Grey's Anatomy</em> joined the conversation at the queer women of color pop-up panel, speaking about her own bisexuality and struggles as a biracial woman.</p>
<p>Ramirez wasn’t the only celeb to get personal.&nbsp; Many others joined the convention and this year will be no different.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Media/clexacon-2018.jpg" alt="clexacon 2018" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p>Featured guests for 2018 include Chlyer Leigh (<em>Supergirl</em>, <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em>), Caity Lotz (<em>Legends of Tomorrow</em>), Isabella Gomez, Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce (<em>One Day at a Time</em>), &nbsp;Anna Silk (<em>Lost Girl</em>), Dot Marie Jones (<em>Glee</em>), Nikohl Boosheri (<em>The Bold Type</em>), as well as many returning guests including Amy Acker (<em>The Gifted</em>, <em>Person of Interest</em>),Sarah Shahi (<em>Person of Interest</em>, <em>The L Word</em>), Katherine Barrell, Dominique Provost-Chalkley and Emily Andras (<em>Wynonna Earp</em>), Elise Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis (<em>Carmilla</em>), Elizabeth Keener (<em>The L Word</em>, <em>Skirtchasers</em>), Rachel Skarsten (<em>Lost Girl</em>, <em>Reign</em>), Zoie Palmer (<em>Lost Girl</em>, <em>Dark Matter</em>).</p>
<p>The name ClexaCon was born from the fan favorite ship ‘Clexa’ (Clarke &amp; Lexa) on the show <em>The 100</em>. In 2016, lesbian Commander Lexa was killed by a bullet minutes after consummating her relationship with bisexual lead, Clarke Griffin, thus checking all the boxes of the ‘Bury Your Gays’ trope. This heartbreaking moment led the organizers of ClexaCon to create one of the first conventions geared towards LGBTQ+ women to move the conversation forward in a more positive way.</p>
<p>ClexaCon was created and is run by <strong>Holly Winebarger</strong>, <strong>Ashley Arnold</strong> and <strong>Danielle Jablonski</strong> with the goal to provide a safe space and a world-wide community of LGBTQ+ women and allies who love TV, film, comics and books; to encourage more LGBTQ+ women to get involved in content creation; to embolden allies to improve representation for LGBTQ+ characters in their creative work.</p>
<p>“We hope attendees feel empowered. We want them to leave knowing this industry, like all industries, is in desperate need of more diverse voices. &nbsp;Pick up a camera, grab a pen, start writing, start creating because there are other people who care about what you have to say,” says <strong>Ashley Arnold</strong>.</p>
<p>What makes ClexaCon&nbsp;relevant and current within today’s social, cultural and political landscape is that it is the only event of its size in the world. More and more comic con-type events are popping up all over the U.S. but it’s hard to find LGBTQ+ content in those spaces, let alone events that are geared specifically to our community.</p>
<p>At a time when lesbian spaces, festivals and publications are rampantly vanishing all across the country, ClexaCon becomes fundamentally necessary to reconnect a community - making an impact by&nbsp;providing a safe place for LGBTQ+ women from all walks of life to come together and act as agents of change.&nbsp;</p>
<p>ClexaCon is dedicated to being both a resource and an advocate for the value of diversity, equality and inclusion. It is now becoming a marquee destination for all things women in entertainment, proving that there is both quality and quantity to be found when it comes to creative work that represent LGBTQ+ women.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.lezbelib.com/images/stories/Media/clexacon.jpg" alt="clexacon" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.clexacon.com/">https://www.clexacon.com/</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">#ClexaCon2018</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Schedule available here: <a href="http://clexa-con.com/about/schedule/">http://clexa-con.com/about/schedule/</a></p></div>